Aerie Faerie 101: Grounding and Centering Lead by Prof

Airy Faerie Beltane, 2006 May Day! Publisher’s Notes

Fae Faerie Blessings, and welcome to the 2006 Beltane issue OK, with that out of the way, let’s get this issue going! I hope of the Denver Faeries’ Airy Faerie. Even though most people think that you enjoy our little fae-zine. Please remember you can always about love around Valentines’ Day I am thinking about it as we send us your comments. We like to know what you guys are approach Beltane! The main reason for this is that a few weeks ago thinking – the good, the bad, and the perverted! Phoenix gave me a pleasant surprise, while walking around the park near work, he asked me if I wanted to celebrate our love with a hand Many Blessings and Naked Hugs, fasting on Beltane. Of course I didn’t have to think about it, and DragonSwan quickly said yes! So now we are gathering the Denver Faeries (Soon to be Mrs. DragonSwan-Phoenix, or would that be Dragon- together to share this day with us. As well as pulling out our hair, or Phoenix or Phoenix-Swan or Dragon-Phoenix-Swan?) at least I am, trying to figure out what to say, and what is going to be happening at the ceremony. Of course the bachelor party and Publisher’s Notes, Too honeymoon are no brainers! I have never been good at talking in No, DragonSwan and I have not broken up, and no, he’s not front of a group, no matter how close I am to them. (And picturing two-timing on me. The Falcon has jumped into the fire and has been them naked doesn’t work for me. It is much more difficult to reborn into a Phoenix. There will be more on the name change next concentrate with a hard on!) I guess I just need to trust in myself issue when I run my article about the perpetual questions related to and just let the magic flow. Much easier said then done. I wanted to faerie names. share with you this big news as I have connected with many of you This issue is special in the fact that we have two articles on our via e-mails and snail mail and feel like we really are one big family. 101 series. P’chE has recapped our session on “What is We are planning to start our Beltane/Hand Fasting ritual at 3:00pm grounding?” and Cielo has recapped our “What is Heart Circle?” (Mountain Time) on Sunday, April 30, 2006. Any energy you can session. All of our 101’s have helped us refocus our energy as a send would be greatly appreciated. If you are reading this after that group. Also, thanks go to Beast for supplying the next installment in date we would still appreciate any energy. OK, now that I spent all the articles about the Sabbats. my space talking about the hand fasting let me get to this issue. I also want to say a special thank you to Damian. The poem on In this issue, among the stories, poems, games and naked men, the next page was part of an email closing he wrote on the faerie list you will find a sort of birth announcement. Phoenix and I not only on Queernet. It was a beautiful, quite voice in the middle of a heated are sharing our loving partnership with everyone, but also our discussion where people were loosing sight of the fact that real people creative partnership. I won’t tell you what we are working on here; were on the other side of the internet. The words struck a chord in I’ll let you find the notice elsewhere in the issue about our next little my heart and Damian graciously granted his permission for me to adventure, our little bundle of joy! reprint it in the Airy Faerie. As always, this issue contains graphics of male nudity, as well as gay sexual activities. If you are offended by such material, or if Faerie Kisses and More Naked Hugs you are too young to view it, please do not go any further, if you Phoenix - soon to be the Mr. half of whatever DS decides the haven’t already. I know you guys like to peek ahead at the artwork. name of our relationship will be.

Airy Faerie The Airy Faerie is a publication of the Denver Radical Faerie Tribe.

For more information you can contact us at: Denver Radical Faeries PO Box 631 Denver, CO 80201-0631

or send an email to: [email protected]

or visit us at www.geocities.com/denverfae Beltane, 2006 Silent Words White Water Rafting by Damien By Phoenix sitting quietly alone, Standing on the banks of a river watching the world go by, staring at a screen, Just like I’ve been taught. hearing words in my head Let the thoughts flow in. Let the thoughts flow out. spoken by imaginary voices, and Nothing sticks. wondering if those voices sound Going nowhere. anything at What if I jump into the rushing waters of the spring run off? all I am grounded! I am a rock in the stream of life! like the person who wrote the words. The waters rush around me. The pounding force will wear me down.

Still going nowhere.

What if I’m one of the sticks that is on the river? It is moving, that should be better, right? I float on the river enjoying the ride – and get stuck in the rocks. Going nowhere.

I feel like someone is ready to break my neck.

What if I’m a single leaf that is floating on the river? It is moving and small enough to not be caught by the rocks. It is a nice ride. But I get shoved aside because I’m small I’m caught in the still waters on the side.

Going nowhere.

But what if I’m the ant that is on the leaf that is in the river? I’m in charge of my destiny. I can avoid the rocks and enjoy the thrill of the rapids they create. If I get stuck, I can use my energy to move back into the river. I am in control and it feels good.

Now I’m going somewhere.

A river is a nice image to help clear the mind, But is no way to live my life. Why should I sit on the side and watch life pass me by? I need the power to navigate the rocks. I need the energy to get moving.

I am ready to jump on the raft and go white water rafting.

This raft is now boarding. We don’t want anything that will slow us down. Please leave all unnecessary baggage of the past behind. We need to ride light and fast as we head into the future.

Oh? You want to know where the raft is going? I can’t tell you - I don’t know. And that’s why it is going to be fun!

What is your choice? Watch the river or enjoy the ride?

Page 3 What is Beltaine? by Beast When Phoenix reminded me it was time to write about Beltaine for the Airy Faery I agreed to come up with something, but also told him, “but it is my least favorite of the Sabbats.” Hmmmm. Why is that exactly? I think it is because Beltaine has always seemed to me the most self-congratulatory and self-consciously heterosexual (and thus most excluding to Fae Folk) of the festivals of the year. It’s all “Sacred Pole goes in Sacred Hole. As above so below. Hieros Gamos1. Blah, blah, blah. Ho Hum.” With men chasing women (pant pant titter titter) and women chasing men (hee hee la la la) and people drinking too much mead and having nasty and probably well-de- delicacy (like silk) and incredible strength (also like silk) are the served hangovers the next day. Being a faggot, I am sitting this whole sacred strands that make the pole-in-the-hole more than the sum of thing out on the sidelines offering up an occasional half-hearted its parts (and “parts is parts” as we all know). We are the Third cheer, (“Go. Team.”) whilst distractedly shaking my pom poms in Thing that makes the whole come together as one and move from the general direction of the whole debacle. Being both the authors the place of the animal into the realm of the divine (Yes, they are all and the main protagonists of the Dominant Paradigm, you’d think one and interpenetrate/interweave with each other just like the hole the hets would be more relaxed about the whole thing, but they need and the pole and the ribbons). to keep reassuring themselves and reinforcing their sexual So now I can live with this Sabbat, thinking of it this way. And stereotypes. At least pagans are being a bit more mindful of the the fires of creation are birthed in the earth and rise up through the whole thing: “Let’s fuck! It’s fun, healthy, and SPIRITUAL!” column of life and are sent forth in a shower of color and light into Am I being negative? the world. We are an expression of this and a medium of this Yes. I know I should be thinking that “It’s not just about sexual expression in the world. energy, it’s about creative energy, and we faggotwitches are so darn Have a Blessed Beltaine! creative!” 1“Holy Marriage.” See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Anyway, so I am rolling around in these angry and irritated Hieros_gamos thoughts the way a dog rolls around on a Smelly Dead Thing In The 2I have a sneaking feeling that another faery sometime talked Grass. It’s fun for a while, but then you realize something reeealy about this somewhere and I am remembering what he said. If so, stinks and it is impossible to get away from it because it is you. thanks to you whoever you are and I hope you don’t mind me Then something rose up from my memory that saved me in my writing down what you said so that others can benefit from it the extreme stink... way I did! Ok, you know the whole Sacred Pole in Sacred Hole–The May Pole. There is a third element that I was forgetting. The Ribbons! Yes, the filmy, colorful, silk ribbons that get grabbed by the grubby hands and woven somehow during the clumsy in-and-out dance into a beautiful hand-crafted condom for the Sacred Pole. We faeries are the ribbons!2 All our beauty and uniqueness and Beltaine or Beltane? By Phoenix Eagle eyed readers may have already noticed that the cover Subscription Information says this is the Beltane issue and Beast’s article is about Beltaine. The Airy Faerie is a free electronic publication. If you We are talking about the same thing. Of all of the Sabbats, this one have received a copy from a friend and would like a copy has some of the merkiest origins, so there are many thoughts as to sent directly to your inbox, just send a note to the origin of the Sabbat, who it was honoring and thus even the [email protected] and we can include you spelling of the Sabbat’s name. in our distribution list. I have seen the name spelled either of the ways you see here. In We do recognize that due to the nature of the graphics, Sabbats, by Edain McCoy, she uses Bealtaine when discussing the an electronic solution is not always possible. If your Sabbat, and includes Bhealltainn as the Scottish spelling. electronic access to the Airy Faerie is restricted for any According to her, scholars have traced the name back to either reason, we do offer snail mail distribution. Send an email (or being related to Beltene (an Irish death god), Beli (a Welsh god), snail mail to the address on the page 2) and we can add you Belanos or Belios (a Celtic fire god) or even Baal (a Phoenician to that list. vegetation god).

Page 4 Airy Faerie Faerie 101: Grounding and Centering Lead by Prof. Hank McCoy notes taken (therefore slightly opinionated) by P’chE We begin many of our gatherings, most certainly our rituals So be it with much of what we do when we are grounding and and circles by first grounding and centering. centering. We have many varied and personal tools with which to Now what does this mean? How many other instances in our ground and center. What works for one may not work for others. It lives are we asked to center, to focus, to prepare ourselves for the is our task to discover our individual devices for our entering this ensuing experience? grounding and centering state. Some reference The Spiral Dance When we are preparing to concentrate on a specific task, we by Starhawk as an excellent tool. are simply doing just that, concentrating. We are clearing our minds One of the essentials expressed in grounding and centering is of the clutter, confusion and intricate details of our busy daily to let it become a natural and very simple experience. Forcing such encumbrances. We need to overcome the emotional scatterings and a state rarely works. Calmness and turning off the world around calm our minds into a meditative ‘rooting’, pulling energy from one, concentrating on the now helps. Acknowledging the intrusions inside the earth’s energies, visualizing what will remove that of outside thoughts or tasks or mental ramblings helps some to nervousness, anger, hostility, danger, fear from our current state of continue on into the journey being attempted. being and bringing us into a peaceful existence with the energy within Visualizations used to assist in calming and grounding may vary us and of those surrounding us, including the nonphysical energies from realistic scenics such as a meadow, a mountain stream, a broad of the place in which we are gathered. old spreading tree, a cave, any physical sight bringing pleasant Especially when magik is being attempted, it makes for a very memories while someone else may use sounds or colors to traverse difficult task to concentrate only on one’s own energies and not call into that area. There is no right or wrong way in which to make the upon those closely aligned. It will exhaust us and the accomplish- journey. It is a personal and individual journey, therefore whatever ment will be unsuccessful. In a very new trilogy, The Inheritance, works is correct. the very young and talented author, Christopher Paolini, writes of a Giving oneself the time to make the journey and establishing mythical fantasy world inhabited by dragons, dragon-riders, fairies, that memory of calmness, pleasant existence, of whatever it may be elves, gnomes, witches, humans and some very evil and vicious that provides a removal from a busy, hectic pace of everyday living creatures. It is a story of how these diverse beings can exist and is what makes grounding and centering occur. The person leading how they must rely upon each other and the skills they learn. Some is only the instrument in achieving the task. of these skills are of course magikal but if the magik is not fully May your journeys all be pleasant and enlightening, learned and the individual calling up a specific form is not fully empowering and resourceful. concentrating, dire unpredictable consequences can result.

Beltane, 2006 Page 5 Faerie 101: What is Heart Circle? By Cielo What would Harry Hay say if we asked him this question? · Heart Circle IS faerie magic because it is faerie ritual at its most Unfortunately, we do not have him here to guide us. However, he sacred. has set upon us a vision of community. With that vision the Denver · Heart Circle can be time consuming. Consuming because of the Faeries sat down for a bit, in heart circle style to hash out, “what is topic, because of where the energy comes from and because heart heart circle?” The circle comprised of mixed generations and circles can contain large numbers. perspectives. Some of us new faeries and some of us elder faeries but all faeries from birth. What follows is a rehash of our pow-wow What some of us thought the rules may be (which ones are circle. But keep in mind that all have our own ideas of what heart close to the truth?) circle is and what it does for each of us. Oh, and please share – this · No one should leave/enter during heart circle. is not a finite list. · If you do leave, you cannot re-enter. · Heart circle is a space and time for confessions of the heart. · If you do leave/enter, you do so as the totem is being passed. · Speak from the heart. Honesty. · To speak one must possess the talking totem (stick, shawl, other) · Allows for all to share as equals equally. and otherwise stay silent (except for the well meaning “hissssss.”) · Helps to further our collective vision of fae-dom. Are certain things · Members of the circle must not retort to individuals but speak discovered during heart circle? Community building? subject to subject, not subject to object. That is – do not approach · Allows all that share to start, direct and finish a thought without others’ passion with your own but respond to the thought. (“I” interruption. statements people!!). In this way Heart Circle is training for those · The circle teaches us to listen. Teaches us patience with response. in attendance. Where else would we learn to think and speak as Teaches us not to think of what we are next to say but to listen to such? “what is now.” · Respond only to others after heart circle. · The circle harbors and creates a sense of acceptance for all no · Heart circle can have a topic and not just be free-flow. matter what is shared. Where does this acceptance come from? · The circle can evolve as all participate. · It is a safe space. · What is said in heart circle stays in heart circle. · The circle forces, through our own choice, ourselves to function · The rules of Heart Circle change with each group. in a way we are unaccustomed – functioning outside of our own boxes can create magic and perspective. · Heart circle is a sacred space because it is one of the only things Lovers and Fools in the Tarot that faeries claim as their own that possesses rules. by Phoenix Comments on Heart Circle The words that DragonSwan wrote about the Lovers card were · Heart circle may not be for everyone. It can be scary, engrossing, what he said about the card when it was first published in the Airy intense and emotional. Among other things, realize we may all Faerie, Winter 1999 Issue. This was back in the days when the tribe come for different reasons. did the old cut and paste mockups and ran to the local copy store and spent a fortune on making copies for everyone. Each time I go The Lovers through the old editions and see this art, I ask “When are you going by DragonSwan to work on the tarot deck?” by DragonSwan Well, that time is now. After working as a team to put the Airy The tradition of using cards as a tool for divination has always Faerie together, we have decided to start putting energy into seeing interested me. As a child I often asked my mother to read my cards. a tarot deck that speaks to our lives as Faeries come to live. We She used a deck of regular playing cards, and an old worn out know that it will take a while to truly understand the energies that booklet. As I grew up, I discovered the Tarot, and was fascinated, need to go into a creation of this nature. We know that at times it but disappointed. Being gay, I wanted something that spoke to me. will be work. We also know that most of the time it will be fun. So years later I began creating my own Queer of Faerie version of We know that we want the deck to be playful, while having the the Tarot. Not being one to start at the beginning, for me the spiritual connection at the same time. If you think this deck is going obvious place to start was the Lovers card, the 6th Major Arcana. to be rated anything less than XXX, you don’t know us very well. Two men hold and support each other while remaining So, while the Lovers card got things started, those lovers have individuals. They hold and share one heart, one passion, one love. become a pair of fools and are looking forward to the challenges of They are naked as a symbol of truth and pride. Nothing is hidden, the next couple of years. Please visit my on-line journal, and they feel no shame. The garden, like love, is a place of great http://jwrphoenix.livejournal.com, to keep up to date on the progress beauty, new life, one of nature’s miracles, and both of them need to of the deck. We will be discussing things with our local tribe be tended to with care and compassion if they are to grow and thrive. members, but you can participate too by adding your comments to The sun - fire - desire - passion is the power behind the Lovers, my posts in the journal. We will keep you up to date in these pages empowering their life together. May the Lovers embrace you, with as well, but these will be snapshots of the deck itself whereas the warm naked hugs, and soft tender kisses. journal will be the story of the journey in creating it.

Page 6 Airy Faerie

Quest for the Crystal Phoenix Chapter 13: A Voice in the Wind by Orpheus Apollo and Johnny were riding in silence. After the initial going. The sooner we get to the house, the sooner…” adrenaline rush of defeating the troll, Apollo slipped into a funk. “That is why the Moth told me to wait.” Not only had he nearly been raped, he hadn’t really done anything “Hold it. You know that father has told you to never use that to defend himself. He kept apologizing to Johnny. The faerie kept name for mother in public.” telling him that it was not uncommon for someone to freeze the first Lily’s irritation grew. “Public? There is no ‘public’ here. It is time they were in a dangerous situation. He said that the palace just the two of us.” guards have told him that many times over the years. The prince The prince had been listening to the two faeries bickering. kept focusing on the fact that he didn’t actively contribute to their Although Johnny never talked about his family, but based on defense. After the twentieth time of reminding the prince that he watching people at home, this had to be his sister. He cleared his had never been trained to fight a troll who is twice as tall as the throat, “Excuse me for interrupting your reunion, but what am I? prince, probably three or four times heavier, that they survived and Nothing?” that the faerie was there to help guard the prince, not the other way Before Johnny could say anything, Lily said, “Yes. You are a around, Johnny let the prince ride in silence. He was actually human and in Faerie territory, so you don’t count for anything. You looking forward to spending some time at his mother’s home in keep you mouth closed until you are given Faerie Aerie. He hoped that a nice hot bath and his mother’s permission to speak.” Lily turned back to Johnny, gift of knowing exactly what to say at the right moment “Honestly brother, you should train your pets could penetrate the prince’s head. Her gift drove him better than that. I don’t know why I waste crazy when applied to himself, but at a time like my breath trying to remind you that you this, it might actually be useful. are of royal birth and need to maintain The lengthening shadows around them as certain standards of behavior. I can’t they exited the last of the forest on the edge of imagine why Grandmother hasn’t the city only added to the gloom of the silence. clipped your wings. It’s bad enough Johnny looked at the lone oak that was in the that you spend your time with that meadow between the forest and city and freak, Viola, but I have heard that you remembered the days when that tree marked spend time at the castle of the Evil the boundary of how far he could venture Queen, which has been forbidden to all without supervision. faeries for years. And now, I find you on “It’s about time you showed up!” A the road with some catamite. Couldn’t you female voice shattered the silence and at least pick up something at least a little stepped out of the oak’s shadow. She was more adult? Or is robbing the cradle the only dressed in a white lace gown. A white way you can find sex partners these days?” parasol was open to shade her from the last “Lily, that was uncalled for. Viola is our ray’s of the sun. cousin, and she was my friend before she had “Lily! What are you doing here?” her…well, before. She is still the same person asked Johnny. inside, so why would I not be her friend due to her “Waiting for you, obviously,” she misfortune.” replied in a huff. “I have been waiting for you “She was a freak long before that.” for hours. Moth told me to meet you and that “And when mother learns of your manners when you would be here at precisely two minutes until five o’clock. I meeting her guest, she is going to have a fit.” have been waiting, melting in the hot sun and nearly two hours later “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing that she’s not here. If you you finally show up.” hadn’t kept interrupting me, I would have already had a chance to Off in the distance, a clock tower bell chimed. “Listen to that tell you that she’s not here, which is why she told me to wait for you. Lily. It is the Tower chiming the hour. Shall we count?” Apollo could Queen Holly has called all of the senior members of the family to a hear some cynicism in his friend’s voice that he hadn’t heard meeting. Moth has packed up the house and has gone to attend. She before. They waited for the Quarters to finish and counted the booms has arranged a room for you at the Cock’s Inn. Being the Queen’s that counted the hour. “Hmm, I counted five, just as mother said. I Head Attendant, I was tasked to inform you of the change in plans.” don’t know why you never believe her. She has never been wrong in “Head Attendant?” chuckled Johnny. “So that is what they call her predictions. Why would you think today would be different?” the ladies who sit in bathrooms and hand people towels.” Lily’s “Moth has been wrong! She said you would be a ‘giant among face grew red at the insult. “Well, dear sister, you being so close to men.’” the Queen and all, would know then that I have been assigned as a Johnny let out a groan. “I had forgotten that one, but she didn’t Faerie Godfather to someone who happens to live with the Evil say when. I have a sick feeling in my stomach that mother may have Queen, as you call her. Since Grandmother made that assignment gotten it right.” The faerie let out a sigh, “Never mind. Let’s get herself, my time there can hardly be forbidden, can it?”

Page 8 Airy Faerie Lily laughed. “That has to be the most absurd thing I’ve heard you have arrived unharmed. When I learned of your encounter with in years. It’s a good thing that Grandmother limited nose growing that troll, I was poised to send in some help. But when Johnny decked spells to wooden puppets, otherwise you would poke people’s eyes him with that sucker punch, I knew that I was overreacting.” out by telling lies that big.” Almost in unison, Johnny and Apollo said, “You know about “Excuse me for interrupting again, but it isn’t a lie. I was there that?” when Queen Holly made the announcement,” said Apollo. “Yes. The rabbit was watching the bridge. He told the squirrel, “And why should I believe you?” Lily turned toward him. Her who told the finch, who told Talks2Birds, who then told me.” eyes were ablaze with the irritation of his presence. “You probably “So, is that why you were not worried when they didn’t arrive would say anything to please your master.” on time?” asked Lily. “First, I would ask, what grounds have I given you to doubt my “No. I didn’t worry because you contacted me at five o’clock word? In the land of my birth, people are believed to be honest until Fransancisco time,” snapped the queen. “Since you are in Faerie proven otherwise. But if that is not enough, then I suggest that you Aerie, you called me two hours before they were supposed to ask my Great Aunt. She was there and can confirm this as well.” –continued on page 10 “And just who is this old biddy?” scowled Lily. “And why would I believe anything she would have to say?” “It might have to do with the fact that when she was last visiting the ‘Evil Queen’, the heralds’ announced her name as Queen Holly Jasmine.” “This has gone far enough,” shouted Lily. “It isn’t enough that my brother lies to me, but you are saying that you are somehow related to the Queen of the Faeries? That borders on treason!” Lily turned her back on Apollo and Johnny and took a deep breath, and then slowly turned around. “Your idea has merit, for a human. I will call your bluff. Grandmother told me to contact her if there were any problems. When you didn’t arrive on time I sent her a message. She replied that she wasn’t worried but to call her the moment you arrived.” Before Johnny could say anything, Lily collapsed her parasol, quickly waved it in the air, flung it over her shoulder and then used it like a fisher would cast their rod. Apollo watched a spark fly from the end. Lily opened her parasol again with a loud snap punctuating the motion. “Now, we wait.” “Nice display, sis. Especially after you said that there was no ‘public’ here to witness it. When I need to talk to her, I simple say, ‘Grandmother, I need to talk to you as soon as possible” and…” “And ‘the old biddy’ answers you every time.” Apollo turned to see the Queen of the Faeries stepping out of a doorway that was in the side of the oak. She walked past Lily, ignoring her completely and gave Johnny a motherly kiss on his check. She turned to Apollo and gave him a full court curtsy before giving him a similar kiss. “Grandmother, what are you doing?” Lily asked in amazed indignation. “You are a Queen and he is a mere human.” “A mere human, child? If you had paid once ounce of attention to what both your mother and I told you, this is Prince Apollo, future king of the reunited kingdom.” Lily’s eyes flared as she looked at her brother. “Why didn’t you say something?” “According to my sources,” said the queen, “you never gave him that chance. I would certainly expect better manners from you. This is something that we will need to discuss later.” “Yes, Grandmother” Although her voice was subdued, her eyes betrayed her rage at being reprimanded in front of her brother. The queen turned to look at the prince. “It is good to see that

Beltane, 2006 Page 9 Quest/Crystal Phoenix continued

arrive. Something else we will need to discuss. Now as I was right hand and left boot; his legs and right sleeve. She pushed him a saying, I am proud of how you two conducted yourselves in that bit further than Johnny ever had. The queen reminded him that his situation.” clothes were touching his body. The clothes touch the air. The air “But I didn’t do anything,” said Apollo. touches everything. Through that connection, he can turn anything “That may be true, my child,” said the queen. “But have you invisible. With her guidance, he even managed to turn his horse been told that trolls have a way to mesmerize humans? Johnny, I invisible without being in direct physical contact. The strain was know that is not the lesson plans until Year Four, but all things starting to show on his face, so the queen halted the tests. considered, please add Troll Bypass Spells to class when you return “Now,” she said, “think back to the situation earlier today. How to Resquad. And yes, Lily, he is stationed at my sister’s home. If could you use that ability in your defense?” you would pay attention to official court press releases for your The prince thought about it and his face brightened. “If the information instead of reading the Vidalia Gazette, you would have light wouldn’t cast shadows, I could turn invisible and they would known this.” not immediately know where I went. If there would be shadows, Johnny was starting to feel sorry for his sister. This was her then maybe turning only part of my body invisible would be enough third reprimand in as many minutes. Pulling the attention back to to distract them with humor, giving my companions an extra mo- himself, he said, “If you had not mentioned it, I was going to ask ment to react.” you.” “What about having your sword invisible?” “And you made me proud when you triggered the spell that “I thought about that and wondered about the ethics of having gave you the strength to defeat him.” The queen let gentle tones fill an invisible weapon. When people eventually learned that it was her voice. “Apollo, as hard as it might be to accept that Johnny did there, people would wonder about what else I was hiding.” the actual task of defeating the troll, not every battle is yours to “Very good,” said the queen. “Many people would not have fight. In the grand scheme of life, this was Johnny’s fight. He needed given that a second thought. Have you ever watched the guards to learn that he could conquer his own fear of the troll to be able to practice with double swords? Think about starting the fight with take action. But more importantly, he needed to know that he cares both visible, but then turning one invisible. Your enemy would not about something other than himself, and through that caring he was know where to parry the second sword. They know you have it, so willing to risk his life.” you are not butting against that ethics issue.” “You’re right,” said Johnny. “Up until then, I was worried that “Or an invisible arrow, shot into the enemy camp?” said Apollo, I would hesitate at the wrong moment and it would be too late. When more to himself than to the others. “The person falling dead for an facing Oscar and realizing what was going to happen, I didn’t even unknown reason would add a terror factor. The survivors would be think about it, and it felt good.” distracted by wondering what happened and if it would happen to “As for you, young prince,” Holly said softly, “you are a smart them. Thank you, Your Majesty, you have given me much to think lad and our words are of small comfort for you when you feel like upon.” you should have done something. Maybe a quick lesson is in order “I am rewarded by seeing the light back in your smile. I will to give you something to think about.” talk to Hilda and have her start working with you on some of the “That would be nice,” said Apollo. combat uses of magic.” “You have been studying magic for a while. Let’s see what you have learned. Can you turn yourself invisible? I believe that should have been one of the first lessons.” The prince did as requested. Lily laughed at the demonstration. “I guess he failed that test,” she said. “He only turned his body invisible and forgot his clothes.” “What do you have to say to that, Apollo?” asked the queen. “And you can reappear now.” “Since you said this was a lesson, I figured this was a test. You asked if I could turn myself invisible and I took your words literally. You did not ask if I could turn both my clothes and my body invisible.” “I am impressed. Rose is right in praising your reasoning abilities. Most people think of their clothes as an automatic extension of themselves,” she replied. “I did not realize that your control had progressed to that degree. Can you make your clothes invisible, yet remain visible yourself?” She looked at Lily and quickly changed her mind. “Knowing my grandson, I had better change that. Please make only your shirt invisible.” The prince did as requested. They progressed through a series of different tests of his control. He turned just his head invisible; his Page 10 Airy Faerie “I look forward to the lessons.” “I am amazed,” said Lily. “I did not realize that a human had that kind of talent. I thought that was only something a faerie could do.” “Lily, he was not lying when he called me his great-aunt. That means the blood of my mother is in his veins. The Evil Queen, his grandmother, is your great-aunt. Right now, I think a certain Spoiled Princess is more of a concern to me than anything she ever did.” She turned to face Apollo, “Before I forget, Rose says that she misses you, but to tell you that you are not to worry about her. She is having a swell time.” “Swell?” asked the prince. “Now I am worried. She hates that word.” The queen laughed and ruffled his hair. “She said you would say that. She picked that to let you know that things will be different when you get home. Now, your father has something else to say about things. He is worried sick about you. Rose doesn’t know about the troll, but your father has sources as good as mine. It comes from being a monarch. He knows that Myrtle is not in residence at the moment and has requested my assistance in getting you to the valley tonight. He says he would understand if you want to stay in the inn as arranged by the princess, but if you want, I can grant his request.” “I have missed his council and am eager to ask him his thoughts on some of the ethics questions we talked about. If it would not be an inconvenience, I would appreciate it.” “My apologies, Apollo,” said Lily. “My words were rude and hurtful. If I had known that you were important…that we were and turned around to face Johnny. “Where are your manners, my related, I mean…” She paused looking for the right words. friend and teacher? We have been in the presence of a lovely vision “Accepted. If I may offer you something that my father has of Faerie maidenhood and you have yet to introduce her to me? She taught me?” Lily nodded, so he continued. “He told me that I should is a gem that needs to be honored. She is the one who put the ‘fair’ always approach everyone as if they are important, since in their in the word Faerie. Please tell me her name that I may tell the stars eyes, they are. Even if they don’t hold a royal title, they will feel to watch over her when she rests.” honored by the royal treatment. If they do hold a hereditary title, Johnny just about choked as he heard someone talk poetic about then you have not offered a slight to their honor by treating them his sister. Lily, on the other hand, was blushing with the praise. The with less than they feel they deserve. He told me that I should treat mock gallantry was ignored in favor of hearing someone other than everyone as a family member, because in one way or other, no herself chastise Johnny for poor manners in front of the Queen. The matter how distantly, we are related.” fact that the words were coming from a mere human, was ignored, “Wise words,” said the queen quickly. “I wish my sister had because she knew she was the fairest of the faeries. listened when Mother had given her that same advice. Through you, “Johnny,” chided the Queen, “I am ashamed of you. After all she has been learning. Now, let’s send you to your father for his next the kind words I said of you earlier, and now I learn that you have bit of fatherly advice.” forgotten the base courtesy of introducing two strangers.” She turned She made a sweeping motion with her hands and walked over slightly so that Lily could not see her face and winked at Johnny so to the oak. She knocked on the trunk and touched a large knothole that he would understand that she knew the truth of the matter. and pulled. A door opened in the side of the tree and Apollo could “My Prince, I am ashamed at my forgetfulness,” Johnny said as see his father’s campsite inside. he bowed to Apollo and gave his own wink as he raised up. “My “I didn’t know you could do that, grandmother,” said Lily. one thought was of myself and washing away the dirt of the road. “Now you know why I am Queen and not my older sister, Robin. Please accept my humble apologies as I rectify the error of my ill She never could learn the High Magicks.” behavior. Honored Sister, may I be allowed to introduce you to my Holly gave Apollo a hug and ushered him to the tree. After companion?” hugging Johnny, she said, “You will need to ground when you Now that they were in full court formality, Lily reclaimed her arrive. You will be charged with a lot of energy and will feel sick balance that had been lost under the Queen’s reprimands. “Most when you step out the other side. A grounding will take care of it.” certainly. I had been hoping that you would do so as his approach “Thank you for the warning.” was like the sun making an appearance on a cloudy day.” Just as Apollo was about to step in the TreeDoor, he stopped –continued on page 12 Beltane, 2006 Page 11 Quest/Crystal Phoenix continued

“Honored Sister, this is Prince Apollo Phoenix, heir to the combined thrones of the kingdoms of Adbalm, Rianglet and Rysbal. His mother’s mother’s mother is the same as our own, Queen Amaranth MorningStar. He is the chosen GodSon of Lord Apollo. I have the pleasure of having been assigned as his Faerie Godparent.” “I am delighted to make your acquaintance, dear relative,” said Lily demurely. “My Lord, this is Princess Lily Hortensia, known in the village of Faerie Aerie as ‘The Lily of the Valley.’” “I am likewise delighted to make your acquaintance. Having just been introduced, I must regret in my hasty departure. We shall have to wait until another time to break bread together.” “Let me know when that day shall be and I shall bake it myself. Safe journey to you.” Apollo bowed to Holly and Lily and headed back to the TreeDoor. As he stepped into the doorway, he heard Holly ask Lily, was at his own lack of action. He told him about Queen Holly’s “So which were you? A person given the prince’s courtesy because lesson, but he still felt that he could have done more. you deserved it or because you think you earned it?” “As your former weapons teacher,” said Rondar, “let’s talk about Lily’ response was lost to him as he led his horse into the tree. this for a moment. What is one of the first things that you are taught After passing to the other side, he was beyond caring what that when working with a sword?” response was. His head started spinning and was about to fall down “Never draw your sword on an unarmed man,” came his reply. when Johnny grabbed him. “Quick, grab the tree,” said the faerie. “Correct,” said Rondar. “So even though Oscar was twice your Apollo turned around and all signs of the TreeDoor were gone. size, he was unarmed and your instinct to defend yourself was at He hugged the tree in the same manner as Johnny and listened to the odds with your training. That will change soon enough. Do you like grounding exercise that Johnny was saying. After a few minutes, the your gymnastics class?” Apollo nodded, so he continued. “Well, dizziness gone and they led their horses to the corral. that will change too. All those tumbles and flips you have been “That was weird. What happened?” asked the prince. practicing are going to come in handy as you start classes in “As far as I can guess, there is a lot of energy going into wrestling and more physical, unarmed forms of defending yourself. compressing the space between the two sides of the doorway. As we By the time you are ready to start your Walk, you will know stepped through, we must have picked up some of that, which is multiple ways to combat someone like Oscar. By then, your reflexes why we needed to ground.” will be so automatic that you won’t have time to freeze.” They made quick work of unsaddling the horses and brushing “I can only hope,” said the prince. “But still…” them down. With the horses taken care of, they picked up their things “But nothing,” said his father. “There will be times you can’t and headed to camp. They both agreed that a dip in the lake was fight and you have to remember the other lesson you have been called for, so as soon as the clothes were taken off and put away, taught. Hate it as you might…” they went on down to the lake, where they found Adam and Rondar “It is better to be a living king whom is thought to be a coward, watching the sunset. After a quick hug of hello, the four were soon then to be a dead king who was foolish enough to prove to others splashing in the water. It was not long before Apollo’s stomach that he wasn’t,” finished Apollo. grumbled and he realized that he hadn’t eaten since he left “That’s it exactly,” said Adam. Chtðkcôrrål that morning. When he mentioned that to his father, he “As much as I don’t like it, I will try to remember,” said the was told that supper was almost ready and that Adam had just been prince. “Father, something Queen Holly said puzzled me. She said waiting for him to arrive. that she had already known about the encounter and told me how Adam and Rondar got out of the lake, dried themselves off and she had heard about it. She also said that you had already heard headed up to camp to finish the supper preparations. “I am proud of about it. How is that possible?” you, Addie,” said Rondar. “Most parents would have been eager to “The most visible way was directly from Lord Apollo. He was get every detail of his adventure…hovering over them to make sure here at the time and knew the instant that the troll touched your that they are alright.” GodMark. He was furious and howled in rage and was just about to “It was a bit of an effort, I’ll admit,” said Adam, “but I can see fly off when Johnny decked the troll. When he left, he told us that that he is physically fine. If I have learned anything about my son the troll is going to have a very difficult time – a GodMark burn can this summer, it is that he needs to think about things for a while, but only be cured by the God that created it. No trained healer will he will come to me when he is ready.” touch it and an untrained healer will learn quickly. If they try, they Sure enough, halfway through supper, Apollo told his father will get likewise burned. In the end, the troll will have to go to how brave Johnny was when he face the troll and how ashamed he Apollo’s Temple to seek his forgiveness. If his mood doesn’t change,

Page 12 Airy Faerie he was thinking that the troll’s testicles might be a suitable suppli- Apollo told his father and Rondar what Cetee’s father had told cant fee to gain an audience with a God. After that he only got a him about the papel sedoinpen fruit. He had to be careful in what he very nasty smile on his face when we asked what it would take for said because he had also been told to not reveal the former king’s him to actually cure the troll.” real identity until after they got back to Alphatown. He was given a They all agreed that given the one ‘fee’ they didn’t want to secret to reveal at the proper time that would validate the truth of know the rest. “Father,” said the prince, “you said the most visible his identity. way. That implies that there was another way.” The king listened to the story and then asked everyone to “You don’t miss much do you? Yes, even if Apollo hadn’t started be silent for a moment. He asked the wind to bring to him any bellowing curses, I had already known. The wind told me to listen. conversation that Queen Iris of Adbalm had that talked about the While you were on the road, I asked the wind to watch over you and papel sedoipen fruit. In a moment he heard her voice talking to an to alert me to any problems. Even if I hadn’t, one of my powers as old woman. He heard his wife ask her if she had anything that would king is to, well, ‘know’ when something is wrong. When I get that end the ache in her heart. The old woman responded that this fruit feeling, I just listen to what is in the wind. It hears everything. It was magical and could end all physical ailments with the exception takes some time to learn to filter out all the sounds it carries, but of rigormortis. The queen then said that sounded exactly what she with practice you can even tune into words that were said in the was looking for. The conversation faded in his ears. past.” Adam told everyone what he heard. “Now, why didn’t I hear “Will I be able to do that?” asked Apollo. that before?” He hung his head in his hands. Rondar reached over “I don’t know. My father never told me about this ability. It and pulled him into a hug. may be something that is unique to me and that each king taps into “If Iris knew about your gift, it sounds like she was very careful their own ability. I do know that it wasn’t something I could do until in what she said,” he said to his lover. “She only told people that she I took my Vows of Kingship.” had a pain that she wanted to cure. If the old woman is Belladonna, “If you can hear when something is wrong, and even the past, as Ctholbêahãssêsbüt suspects, then she was equally careful to not why don’t you know what happened to mother?” reveal the fact that the cure offered was death.” “You don’t know how many times I’ve asked myself that same “And,” added Johnny, “if Iris had discovered the truth of the question. I know that something was troubling her, but she would fruit, based on what she wrote in her letter, she knew exactly what never tell me and I had to respect her silence. Cetee said that his she was offered. All that you would have felt from her was her joy in father had something to tell you that might shed some on the finding a ‘cure’. You do have to admit, both women were clever matter.” focusing on the ‘curative’ powers of the fruit and nothing about what would happen after she was ‘cured.’” “It sounds like we have been given the clue to how Iris died, but we don’t know why,” said the king. “Worse yet, we don’t know if she invited death or was she deceived in the matter?” “Father,” said Apollo, “the little I know of my mother has come from what grandmother or you have said. As hard as it is to consider, based on her letter to me, I have to agree with Johnny. I have a feeling that she felt that her death was the only solution. The question is who sought out the other?” “What do you mean, son?” “Well, I guess I’m wondering if Belladonna set up the situation in the first place and created a situation where mother would end up seeking her help. Or is it a case that she found out about mother’s search and thought she could take advantage and twist it to her purpose?” Adam agreed that his son had a good point and excused himself to think for a while. Into the silence that followed his departure, Apollo asked, “Johnny, what did you get upset when Lily kept calling your mother ‘Moth?’ That seems like a simple enough variation of the word mother.” He told him to remember that his father was William Swallow- tail and that they were related to the Monarch. All of immediate family took their names from beautiful flowers and butterflies. Before she married his father, his mother’s name was Myrtle Miller. When her gift of predictions got strong, she ran away and hid among

–continued on page 14 Beltane, 2006 Page 13 Quest/Crystal Phoenix continued

the gypsies, where her gift would seem like a part of the sideshow. Quietly, the prince said, “I think at first, I meant that to happen, To make herself seem serious amidst the garish colors of the gypsy but when she dropped the ‘I am mad at the world’ attitude and started camp, she wore brown and grey clothes. When she and father started smiling, I think I really meant each word.” dating, people didn’t like her. They would whisper behind her back “What?!” Johnny shot up into the air and landed in front of the that father deserved better than a ‘common Miller’ for a wife. With prince so that he could look at him. her drab clothes, they started calling her Moth. Even after father “Yes. She is far prettier than anyone at either castle. If I have to married her and she started wearing real clothes, they would find someone to fit into Queen Ashleigh Ellen’s shoes, I think she wonder why he wasted money on her since the clothes would be might be in the running as ‘fairest of them all.’” Moth-eaten before long. People would ignore her predictions, but “Oh, gross. That’s my sister you are talking about. You may after a child was nearly killed because of their inaction, they started think her lovely now, but I’ve seen her in the morning. She makes to take her seriously. After that, the ‘Moth’ name faded. Oscar wearing that pink skirt look good.” Johnny said that Lily felt that her mother’s commonness was Apollo got out of bed and stepped outside of the tent. “Dear the reason why Lily could never get the best boyfriends. She feels stars, please watch over my friend Lily this evening. She had a long that being the Moth’s daughter scares people away. So she uses day waiting in the hot sun for my arrival and needs to be soothed ‘Moth’ as a way to try to claim that the two of them aren’t related with your gentle touch.” and that she was superior to her mother. He came back into the tent. “Now, can we practice Sex Magic “What did she mean when she said that your mother packed the Lesson 1?” house?” asked Apollo. “Even if she wasn’t there, couldn’t we have Johnny brightened at the thought but didn’t rush back to the stayed at the house? Why would we need to stay at an inn?” prince’s bed. “After the way you were talking about my sister, I “She meant that literally,” said the faerie. “From her days with didn’t think you would be interested in continuing those lessons the gypsies, she got used to having everything with her. As she with me. Wouldn’t she be a better teacher?” traveled with father to his different estates, she always found that “How did you say it earlier?” He thought a moment. “You were she needed something that was left at the last place they visited. She my friend and teacher before I met her and you are still my friend got tired of always needing something that was someplace else, so and teacher afterwards. Nothing has changed. Why shouldn’t I want she started shrinking the house and everything in it and transporting to continue my lessons with you?” it to where she was going.” “Let’s just say it’s happened to me before.” “That almost makes sense. Bet your father loves saving money “Let’s just say it won’t happen this time.” too, since he doesn’t have to stock up all of his houses.” “That’s a good theory,” said Johnny, “but not quite true. Father told me once that he wished he could go back to the days with each house being stocked. Because everything from all houses is in the one house, he can never find what he needs for that climate, so he has to go out and buy new stuff everywhere he goes. He said that he’s going to try to find the wizard that taught her the ‘higitus figitus’ spell to see if it can be altered to leave behind anything that hasn’t been touched by a member of the household since the last time the house was in that location. When he told that to mother, she laughed. She said, ‘Just imagine the stories they will concoct after going through our left behinds.’ He thought about some of his old journals that he hadn’t seen in years and decided to leave things well enough alone.” “From your description of things,” said Rondar, “I’m surprised that her name isn’t Myrtle Packrat.” “Hmmm,” said Johnny, “big, brown and attracted to bright shiny objects. That would seem to fit. Just don’t say that around my sister or she may try to use that to mother’s disadvantage.” The prince let out a big yawn. It had been a long day with everything that had happened and it was time for bed. As Johnny snuggled in beside the prince, he said, “That was brilliant what you said about how your father treats everyone equally and then showered Lily with all that mock flattery. She is so vain that she knows your words must be true, but now she is going to wonder if you say that about everyone. So she will wonder if you really think the words were true. It’s going to drive her nuts. I love it.”

Page 14 Airy Faerie Two Little Boys by P’chE Once upon a time, there were two little boys who lived in a town - row house. They were very good little boys and worked very hard. Sometimes they worked too hard. They played hard too. Generally they played too hard. Sometimes they played too hard on the roof of their house as they were working on the roof. Sometimes they worked too hard in the back yard. Sometimes they played hard in the back yard and had barbecues. This particular story begins with one of the barbecues. It was around memorial day and they had invited several friends to ,join them. And the friends came bringing other friends. And they had a good time with their old friends and their new friends. Some of their new friends became very good friends. And some of their new friends became old friends and some of their old friends, well, they should have remained old friends. And they planned more parties. And one of the new friends became very close to one of the little boys and they saw a lot of each other. And one of the other little boys liked this new friend, too, but he already had a friend so he didn’t say anything to anyone. And then his friend went away. And the other two friends continued to see each other because, you see, they had a real lot in common. They did the same things and they liked some of the same things. But they didn’t do anything! And then one of the little boys became ill. And all of the friends became worried and looked after the little boy. And the little boy’s family got worried and they all looked after the little boy. But it didn’t do any good and the little boy died. And the friends cried. Three Men in a Shower And the family cried. But the little boy who was left had to take care of the other little by Cubby boy’s things. And the other little boy’s new friend could help him. They scrub and they scour, So they formed an agreement. And they worked together. And they Three men in a shower, played together. As playful as playful can be. And they had a tea party at the home of a new friend who When one drops the soap, became an old friend. The others can hope, And they worked on getting all of the things together and they That his ass is as slippery as can be became old friends with new friends. And friendships became mixed up and things happened that The baker’s the one with his hand on the buns. strained friendships . He knows what he kneads, And another friend’s friend got their friendship mixed up and And kneads what he knows. so he became much closer to the little boy. It doesn’t take long to make temperatures rise. But the little boy is still friends with the other little boy’s friend and so he cannot be as close as his new friend wants to be. The butcher’s the one with his hands on the beef. And an old friend of the little boy’s wants to be closer to this He knows his meat, friend who wants to be closer to the little boy. But now he wants yours, But the friend who wants to be closer to the little boy calls the And he’s ready to cover your meat in sticky man gravy. little boy’s old friend who wants to be closer to the friend and he discusses the situation. But the third is not the candle stick maker, And the three of them discuss each other and include each other He’s long and he’s lean, on events and wonder why. And his dick is like a taper, And the little boy that is left goes on as does this real story. Use The baker and butcher play to make it take shape. your imagination. You can fill in better details than the actual story They play with the soap, but it is pretty dramatic ,just as it plays. With a glimmer of hope, Film at 10! That they will be the candle stick taker.

Beltane, 2006 Page 15 The Cubby Diaries: Puppy Love - Part 2 of 2 by Cubby The following morning, I was making coffee when Kathy he stripped, I noticed that he had a hard on. How could I not notice knocked on the kitchen door. She was frantic because Aeric was something that was eight inches long? He got in the tub. I expected missing and hadn’t been in his bed when she checked on him. She him to settle on the opposite side of the tub and started to say confirmed Aeric’s story about Norman’s tirade about gays the something about how great the yard looked. Instead, he got in right previous evening. She said that she suspected that her son was gay in front of me and kissed me just as my mouth started to open. His and hoped that he might have talked to me. A very sleepy Aeric passion didn’t let me keep it “friendly”. When he released me, I came into the room at that point and asked her if she knew, why started to pull back from his embrace. He said that he hoped that he didn’t she say something to him. She said that it was probably for hadn’t shocked me, but a wise man had told him to be honest about the same reason that he hadn’t told her. I left them alone to talk. his feelings and that he had been waiting for an opportunity to do After awhile, they came out to the patio to say good-bye. Aeric gave that for a very long time. He straddled my legs so his dick was me a hug and said “thanks”. I heard him say to Jesus, “Thanks for touching mine. When I started to talk, he held his hand to my mouth calling in reinforcements.” and said that he needed me to listen. He said that he had known that A couple of weeks later, Norman paid me a visit. He said that he loved me since he was sixteen but I had always told him to wait Aeric and he had a nasty fight that night. He said he asked Aeric if until he was old enough to know what he wanted. He said that he he was gay. Aeric said that he couldn’t answer that without getting had a lot of boyfriends in that time but none of them measured up to in trouble. He said that if he said yes, then he would be read the riot the standard that I had set. He played with my chest hair and said act about how evil gays were. If he said no, then he would get a that when he was in bed with his boyfriends and would rub his hands lecture about lying and then he ran out of the room. Kathy had over their chests, none of them had the same warmth as I did. None stopped Norman from chasing after his son. After cooling down, he of them really cared about how he felt. He got the impression that knew he needed to talk to someone and he knew I was gay and most of them just dated him so that they could meet his father. He hoped I could help. I probably said one of the most foolish things I reached between us and rubbed my cock. He told me to close my have ever said. “So, it is ok to condemn all gays when it is in the eyes and forget that the person in his lap was someone I still thought paper or on TV, but when you need support, it is hunky dory to of as a child. Instead, I was to picture an adult who knows exactly come talk to the local faggot?” I expected an explosion. He said what they want, and that want they wanted was me. He said to feel that was why he needed to talk. He realized that he was taking his how good it felt for our cocks to touch, for chest hair to brush against anger at his father out on his son. He said that he knew that his chest hair and for our tongues to kiss instead of just talk. He shifted father was gay and that they only reason his parents got married was in the water and raised up on my lap so that his butt was resting on for his father to prove that he was a man. When his mother died in a my dick. He asked if it felt as good to me as it did to him. I told him car accident, it wasn’t long before his father started having male that he felt so good that he almost forget my promise to not take guests that often stayed overnight. Norman had always worried that advantage of him while he was still a child. He kissed me and said he would be gay too and spent his high school years proving his that was part of what he was talking about. He reminded me of what manhood by excelling in football. He said that he suspected that his I had been trying of avoid accepting. He had grown up and was son was gay and he couldn’t figure out what he did wrong to make nearly twenty-two now. He said that I didn’t need to be so his son turn against everything he had been taught. He asked how a chivalrous anymore. jock like him could be the father of a sissy. How would that look to He flexed his buns on my cock and asked if I wanted to fuck the guys on the team? I asked him which he valued more: his career him. At that moment, he made it very difficult to think about in football or his son. He said his son “of course”. I said that it answering that in anything but the affirmative but there was that seemed like he was putting his teammates’ potential reactions over little voice inside that screamed “go slow.” I knew that Peter had his son’s real feelings. He thought about it a moment. He said that I given me a lot of freedom in the sex department but I had always was right, but he was scared. How could he send Aeric out into the told him that I would always let him know before I started playing world that will hate him? How could he protect him from the people with someone, especially at home where he might walk in. I told who would drag him behind a car or leave him in a field to die? I him that we would have to wait until Peter got home so that I could said, “The same way parents have been sending their children into keep my promise to him. “From the way you two were going a minute the unknown for generations. You give them your love and make ago, it’s a good thing that he won’t have to wait too long.” Peter and sure they know they have your support.” He thanked me for the talk Jim were standing in the doorway, buck naked with hard-ons and I had given him much to think about. I learned from Aeric that pointing our direction. a couple of days later his father had shocked him with the story After an hour in the tub, I was starting to feel like a prune so I about his grandfather. His father said that while he could wish his got out to give Peter a kiss. Aeric sat up on the edge of the tub and son would find a girl and settle down to live a safe life, he could had a frustrated look on his face for the interruption. “Would you also wish that his son would find the person who made him happiest mind if I fucked him?” I asked. He kissed me and I felt Jim putting and if that was another man, he would have to learn to accept it. a condom on my cock. “Who do you think helped Aeric set this The absence of the sound of the trimmer brought me back to up?” he replied. I laid down on one of the lounge chairs and Aeric the present. I looked up and there was Aeric standing by the tub. restrattled my cock, this time with my cock going into his hole. He “May I join you,” he asked and without thinking I said sure. When started slowly and I saw a pained look on his face but in a flash, the

Page 16 Airy Faerie pain turned to a look of bliss. I sat up so that I could hug and kiss wasn’t there and he wouldn’t “put out” for them. Besides that, none him as I thrust in and out. Peter came in behind me and Jim behind of them were me. He always knew that he wanted his first Aeric. I kept my dick inside him as we held him in our collective experience to me. embrace. Peter leaned over my shoulder to kiss Aeric and Jim did Jim jumped up saying that this was “National Loss of Virginity the same with me and I started my thrusts again. I could feel Peter’s Day” and that it called for a present and ran inside. A few moments hand on Aeric’s cock and could tell that Aeric was getting close so I later he came back and handed Peter something. Peter looked at me increased my pace of thrusts to match what Peter was doing. With a and asked if I wanted to make Aeric a member of the household. I load moan he shot a wad between us which triggered the explosion looked at Aeric and realized how much I had learned to love my cub I had inside him. Peter and Jim started pumping on their own dicks and said that I would if that was what Aeric wanted. He quickly said and soon I felt Peter’s cum on my back and Jim’s growl told me that “yes” so Peter handed me what Jim had given him. It was a golden he had shot as well. dog tag with Aeric’s name on one side and on the other side it said, I pulled out of Aeric and took off the condom. Jim grabbed one “If lost, please return me to…” and had our address listed. of the picnic blankets we keep on the porch and spread it out. The As I placed it around his neck, I had a thought and asked how four of us collapsed on it in a pile. Aeric said that I was right when long they had been planning this. Peter asked if I meant that day I had told him to wait for when there was love involved. He said specifically or since the first time he tried to help Aeric seduce me? that if this first sample of real man sex was any indication, then he Peter pulled the four of us into a hug and spared me from looked forward to when he learned how to do it right. I told him that answering. In the embrace of these wonderful men, I realized that it I couldn’t believe it was his first time. He said that had been one of didn’t matter how long. All that mattered was that Aeric was still the major reasons he broke up with most of his boyfriends. The love alive and had never asked for the pills or the knife.

Beltane, 2006 Page 17 Know Your Tarot? By Professor Percival “Perry” Grinn You know the drill - words can be found vertically, horizontally or diagonally, forward or backwards. You may notice that the word list is not in the normal alphabetical arrangement. I have kept the order of the Major Arcana in the standard order as listed in most decks to help remind you of that traditional relationship of those cards.

YCECNAREP METF AUZDQYV RTECKAI AJ LHQYZWI URNW ZFUPTHBJ RGONWCCOJ NDI GSCSPUCOI NSQZTWFRGBC F NAMDEGNAHNVNCOXKLKY QBCP P NKVLNXANES WORDS MAGI CI ANBYHUMSI OEWDX MAXXUHP WJ P HWEMFXHRGN AVAMWNAJ OEVTI BZETI OG BZBCTJ GRJ USTI CENAKHA MPLRTGESI EADELEGENQK QEOUNI KTI OVF OMELDUP P TGVLHHERMITFEMPRESSD S YEBJ HP EQI F GOGLEWAKO GVRF S HP NAODYDKNKRWLN DWSWGI WGRUWYYUSI BOJ J VNF I KF VTJ GTLXQWEKBRC VI HACLUHVI DKRUTOHOXS UDMOONF YZHHS AXCJ QDF J NNP F EQI HNDEVI LGALLBE

FOOL JUSTICE COINS MAGICIAN HANGED MAN CUPS HIGH PRIESTESS DEATH SWORDS EMPRESS TEMPERANCE WANDS EMPEROR DEVIL KING HIEROPHANT TOWER QUEEN LOVERS STAR KNIGHT CHARIOT MOON PAGE STRENGTH SUN HERMIT JUDGEMENT WHEEL OF FORTUNE WORLD

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